Upbeat Happy-Go-Lucky Cal Thomas

Cal Thomas, in his latest article, suggests that Republicans should be getting a bit more bang for their buck in their elected officials.

In this fall's election, can Republicans go to voters with a positive agenda and solid record of accomplishment? From the volatile subject of illegal immigration and lawbreakers demanding "rights" they do not have, to spending on wasteful and unnecessary projects, to a deficit and national debt that would almost shame Democrats (but doesn't shame Republicans), a majority of congressional Republicans are giving voters little reason to vote for them.

How could a party go from a visionary like Ronald Reagan who changed the world, not to mention restoring American optimism, to the tunnel vision of his illegitimate offspring who seem to care less about change than perpetuating themselves in office? They aren't even doing a good job of that as the fall election results may show, unless somebody or something quickly lights a fire under them. Never has the derogatory phrase, "Republican in name only," applied to so many who have done so little for so few.

I expect that this is more about pushing the Congress than about the fall elections. Thomas believes in the Bush plan to fight the war on Terror (if anything he'd prefer us to be a bit more belligerent). And he knows that if the Democrats take the House or the Senate, they will automatically constrain President Bush, simply by having the power to call hearings. President Bush and his advisors won't like that.

But it has to be depressing for a Republican to admit that the biggest argument in favor of voting Republican is attacking Democrats.